The Week Ahead in Beer: Don’t forget the breweries amid the madness

Greetings, New Mexico craft beer lovers. Stoutmeister here with The Week Ahead in Beer. This column covers all the breweries in Bernalillo and Sandoval counties, with Santa Fe’s four breweries and one down in Socorro and the other in Los Alamos also joining the party.

Stoutmeister puts on his serious face to handle The Week Ahead in Beer.

In case you missed it, but we are guessing you have not based on all the previews we have been running, but ABQ Beer Week starts Thursday. Amid all of the great events, all the craziness, there will be times you need a break. Thankfully, our breweries are still here for you, each an oasis of beer tranquility. Or, maybe they are just having their own parties, like Nexus. Yup, it’s anniversary party time at Nexus, as they turn 5 this Saturday. There will be festivities all day, plus live music from 2 to 5 p.m. They will be serving up delicious Red Chile Ribs and brewer Kaylynn McKnight has not one but three new beers on tap (plus the 505 Collaboration beer, of course). So, in between or before or after your Beer Week stops, make sure to swing by Nexus for some food, beer, and tunes, and wish them all a happy anniversary!

On the new beer front this week, there are a few options to check out. Boxing Bear puts together quite a combination in the form of Blood Orange Pale Ale. Canteen hits nothing but net with Hop Baller IPA. Firkin gets in the summer groove with Peach Hefe. La Cumbre does as well with Strawberry Gose. Those aforementioned three new beers at Nexus are E.S.A. (Extra Special Amber), Bird of Prey IPA, and Beam Me Up Scottish. Turtle Mountain taps a new Session Red.

Up in Santa Fe, Blue Corn is keeping the red theme going with New Mexico Red. Second Street has fresh batches of old favorites High Wheeler, Rod’s Best, and 2920 Pilsner.

Also, for this week and the next, please take note that we are not including Beer Week events with these listings to save time and space. Those are available with the individual previews for some of the breweries, or as part of our daily previews that will run from Thursday until Sunday, June 5.

Continue reading for all the news that is fit to blog for the week of May 23.

To break down each “capsule,” I listed the brewery (with Web page linked), its phone number and hours of operation. Under “Beers” are the new or seasonal beers on tap for this week.

Beers: Flint & Grit (British Mild), Tumbling Waters (Pale Wheat), Sun Dagger (Saison), Crossed Arrows (Scotch Ale), Hoka Hey (IPA), Dust Up (Pale Ale), Jemez Field Notes Lager, Bison Eye Rye, Hefeweizen. The Bison Eye Rye is an unfiltered pale ale made with rye, as if you could not guess by the name. It is the second in a series of four specialty pale ales from Bow & Arrow.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Bow & Arrow will have a happy hour for the first time, Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. Get $1 off pints.

Beers: 365 ESB, Happenstance All-Day Blonde, Happenstance Better Red Than Dead. The All-Day Blonde is the first in a new series of beers created by Broken Trail’s new brewing partners, and the Better Red Than Dead is their second.

Other Events: 10 Drink Minimum will host a Cards Against Humanity night every Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Broken Trail has a build-your-own bloody mary bar. You can purchase three bloodies for just $20.

Coming up on June 18, Broken Trail’s outdoor movie night will be back with Purple Rain.

Beers: Irish Red, Kira Ora New Zealand Session IPA, Sundance Kolsch, Exodus IPA, That’s How It Gose, Hop Baller IPA. There are plenty of hoppy options, such as the new Hop Baller (7.6% ABV, 99 IBU). But there is also the Gose, which was kettle-soured and brewed with orange peel, coriander, and sea salt.

Beers: Milk Stout, London Porter, Honk Ale, Maibock, Classic Amber, Wheat IPA, Red Card, German Pilsner, Cider, DjinnJar Kombucha, Ship’s Hull Barrel-Aged IPA. The Ship’s Hull is the first barrel-aged beer that Kaktus has ever done. Head over and check out the first of they hope will be a series of barrel-aged beers.

Events: The Desert Darlings belly dancers perform from 7 to 9 p.m. on almost every Thursday at the Nob Hill taproom and then Sunday in Bernalillo from 6 to 8 p.m. If you’ve never seen the Desert Darlings in person, you’re missing out.

Every Sunday in Bernalillo, Kaktus is hosting a brunch special from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with breakfast pizzas and drink specials.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Kaktus has several new weekday specials in Bernalillo, including $3 pints on Monday, $9 growlers on Tuesday, $6 bison nachos on Wednesday, and $8 Frito pie and beer on Thursday.

Beers: It’s Not EVEN Brown, Cascade Hop Back, VMO #2, Arrogant Bastard, Strawberry Gose. The Brown is nearly out, so hurry over to help finish off the last of it. The Gose is an experience unto itself, so try that as well.

Beers: New Zealand IPA, Apricot Wheat, Scottish 80, Hefeweizen, Long Nosed Tripel. There are three recent additions in the Scottish, Hefe, and Tripel. The latter is an old favorite, but beware the ABV (9.2%), for it will sneak up on you.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Lizard Tail’s happy hour runs seven days a week from 3 to 6 p.m. You get $1 off food, flights, and pints.

Events: Lizard Tail will host Geeks Who Drink every Tuesday at 8 p.m. Every Thursday will now feature karaoke from 8 to 11 p.m.

Beers: Starrstruck IPA, Thunderr Ale, Problem Child Porter, Red Zepplin. The taps are turning over pretty frequently at Starr Brothers, but that’s because people are drinking them up at a rapid pace. So if you see a favorite listed above, head over now, before this batch runs out.

News: Next up on the beer docket are Electric Sun Wheat and L.A. Woman California Blonde.

Beers: Berry Cider, Stein Wine, Veruca Salt Gose, Half-Acre Hefe, Maibock, Desert Flower IPA, Hop Splitter IPA, Grapefruit Wheat, Cerveza New Mexican, Tupac Cali Red. Tractor has a double dose of hops on tap, with the Desert Flower being the more unique of the two. It is heavy in Mosaic, so if that’s your hop, go get a pint or two.

Live Music (Nob Hill): Today (Wednesday)—Solos on the Hill: Russell James Pyle, 8 p.m.

Other Events: Every Monday at Wells Park you can now find Mondays on the Mic hosted by Kyle Ruggles starting at 6 p.m.

Kamikaze Karaoke is back at Wells Park on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Also, every first Monday of the month at both Tractor locations is Beer for a Better Burque night. For every pint you buy $1 can go to one of four charities that have partnered with Tractor. You can also opt to purchase a special growler with the logo of your favorite charity.

You can grab your own musical instrument and head to Nob Hill for the ultimate jam session. Tractor Tune Up, hosted by the Virginia Creepers, is now an official event happening every Monday starting at 7:30 p.m.

Happy Hour/Discounts: Tractor now has a late happy hour from 9 p.m. to midnight on Mondays with $2 classic beers and $3 seasonals.

Beers: Session Red, Gose With The Flow, For the Bees, Hemisphere Hopper ESB. Head over for some Hemisphere Hopper quickly, as it is nearly out. This unique take on an ESB was the product of a collaboration between TMBC and Second Street.

News: When the Hopper runs out, Bien Tu Helles Bock will be ready to take its place.

Beers: Barleywine, Continual IPA, Two Lanterns ESB, New Mexico Red. Say hello to the New Mexico Red (6.1% ABV, 78 IBU), a hop-forward ale made with Chinook, Citra, and Mosaic. They blend nicely with the caramel malts.

Beers: Black IPA, Chicken Killer, Santa Fe Gold, La Bete Noire, Chaiway to Hell (ECS), Freestyle Pilsner, EXP-ESB, Western Bloc Wheat IPA. The EXP-ESB is named such because it features an experimental hop numbered 345. This trial batch checks in at 6.6-percent ABV and 35 IBUs and you can try it at every SFBC location.

Happy Hour/Discounts: $1 off growler refills in the tasting room on Mondays. $2 pint Tuesdays at the Eldorado Taphouse. On Wednesday, there is a $2 pint special in the tasting room. On Thursday, there will be $1 off growler refills at the Eldorado Taphouse.